HBO eyes ‘Einstein’ as pic

Project based on NY Times journo's story

HBO is looking to make an original cable feature about “Einstein’s Love Letters,” a project based on New York Times’ journo Robin Pogrebin’s June 1 story about the series of love letters that Albert Einstein sent to his once-secret paramour, a reported Soviet spy.

Debra Hill will produce the film, which will be written by Tatiana Blackington, an upstart scribe who brought Pogrebin’s article to Hill’s attention. Barri Evins will co-produce and Patrick List will serve as associate producer.

HBO would only acknowledge that it has had talks about the project, and refused to discuss any details.

In the article, Pogrebin writes about nine letters the preeminent physicist wrote to the married and Russia-based Margarita Konenkova in 1945 and 1946.

Pogrebin, the Times’ media writer, was repped on the deal by ICM’s Alicia Gordon and Chris Dahl.

Blackington currently is writing a project based on the infamous Mata Hari. She also wrote “Four Letters,” a script to which Lou Diamond Phillips is attached to direct and star.

Blackington is repped by Michael Lewis of the Shapiro, Lichtman, Stein agency and attorney Joel McKuin.